My Window To The World…

No, still not running out of ideas. In fact, I can probably keep doing this until the day that I die, because there is so much music out there that I adore.

Still, I will today tap into the catalogue of one of my all-time favourite bands: The Cure.

Such an extensive list of songs to choose from, but today let us go a little psychedelic: “The Kiss”, off their album "Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me".

Very cool guitars/drums intro, three minutes and fifty seconds of slowly building up a wall of guitar sounds, then into the lyrics – half screaming. As on many The Cure albums: a perfect opening track.

“The Kiss” live used to be mind-blowing, but since drummer Boris Williams left back in 1994, it sounds terrible and does not have the required drive.

© Patrice Schneider. No reproduction without prior written consent.

Technorati Tags: The Cure, Robert Smith, Boris Williams

I have been going through my CD collection to find more Top Tunes – there are enough to keep this series up for not just years, but decades. You have been warned…

Today, I thought, it is time to point you to another track that you can download from the net for free. Don’t you guys and gals like freebies? If you do, but would still like to support the artist, you can find some of his other songs in the Apple iTunes Store.

The artist’s name is Roland Blum. The tune is called “Going Home”. You can find it on Roland Blum’s Last.FM Artist Page, on his release “EP”.

It is a laidback, catchy tune, grooves along nicely – even though it is in 7/4. Well done, Mister Blum.

© Patrice Schneider. No reproduction without prior written consent.

Technorati Tags: Roland Blum, Roland Blum EP, Last.FM, Free MP3 Download

I have been inspiring myself – how cool is that?! So I am picking up on yesterday’s idea of mentioning two artists in one post. Today it is John Zorn’s and Ennio Morricone’s turn.

John Zorn first had some mainstream success with his Ennio Morricone tribute album The Big Gundown.

The track I am recommending today, however, is an Ennio Morricone cover by John Zorn’s band Naked City: The Sicilian Clan. It is available on their debut release, entitled Naked City.

Naked City’s lineup is very impressive: Joey Baron on drums, Bill Frisell on guitar, Fred Frith on bass, Wayne Horvitz on keyboards/piano, Yamatsuka Eye on vocals, and John Zorn on saxophone.

© Patrice Schneider. No reproduction without prior written consent.

Technorati Tags: Ennio Morricone, John Zorn, Naked City, Joey Baron, Fred Frith, Bill Frisell, Wayne Horvitz, Yamatsuka Eye, The Big Gundown

How could the conversation possibly not come to South Park and Cartman doing the “J.Lo” song “Burrito. Taco taco. Burrito. Taco. Taco taco. Don’t think that just because I got a lot of money I’ll give you taco-flavored kisses, honey! Fulfill all your wishes with my taco-flavored kisses. Taco taco. Burrito Burrito. Taco taco.”? “‘s okay! Si si!” Hilarious stuff!

My friend is also a South Park fan, but he had never seen the episode “Fat Butt And Pancake Head”, “starring” Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck.

I had to send him some info the minute I got home. Came across the Wikipedia page for said episode: interesting stuff!

Also on the main South Park Wikipedia page there were many interesting bits and pieces. If you are a fan: read it. Very informative.

I loved one of Trey Parker’s and Matt Stone’s “mottos”: “We are equal opportunity offenders!” Yeah!

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Today’s Top Tune, Round 005.

I am taking round 005 as an opportunity to mention two musicians/composers that have been rocking my world for almost two decades: John Zorn and Marc Ribot.

John Zorn first got my attention with his band Naked City, later with the Bill Laswell / Mick Harris collaboration Painkiller, and of course with his project Masada / Electric Masada.

Marc Ribot – who has played with the likes of Tom Waits, Lou Reed and Keith Richards (to name but a few) – always shines when under the guidance of John Zorn.

To cut a long story short, today my vote is on “A Tiki For Blue” from John Zorn’s album "Taboo & Exile" – breathtakingly beautiful! (Jamie Saft’s performance on keys also needs to be mentioned.)

For links to further artist info pages, check “Today’s Top Tune – 22 May 2007″ on my Last.FM.

© Patrice Schneider. No reproduction without prior written consent.

Technorati Tags: Marc Ribot, John Zorn, Naked City, Mick Harris, Bill Laswell, Painkiller, Masada, Electric Masada, Tom Waits, Lou Reed, Keith Richards, Jamie Saft, Taboo & Exile

Today’s Top Tune, Round 004.

Yesterday’s Top Tune reminded me of one of the most beautiful pieces ever written for string sextet:

Arnold Schönberg “Verklärte Nacht, Op. 4″ (Transfigured Night; for 2 violins, 2 violas & 2 celli)

I recommend the SONY Classical release: Ensemble Intercontemporain, conducted by Pierre Boulez. (Amazon.com link.) (Excerpts are available for pre-listening).

“Verklärte Nacht” was later adapted for orchestra. For completists and Arnold Schönberg enthusiasts definitely a must-have. Others do not need to listen to it, since it does not come anywhere near the beauty of the original string sextet version.

© Patrice Schneider. No reproduction without prior written consent.

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Technorati Tags: Arnold Schönberg, Arnold Schoenberg, Verklärte Nacht, Transfigured Night, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Pierre Boulez

Today’s Top Tune, Round 003.

And have I got something for you: today’s top tune has three parts! Part one is great, part two fantastic, part three even better! It is a classical piece by one of my all-time favourite composers: Anton Webern.

“Concerto for nine Instruments, Op. 24″

The three parts are:

Konzert für neun Instrumente Op.24: I. Etwas lebhaft
Konzert für neun Instrumente Op.24: II. Sehr langsam
Konzert für neun Instrumente Op.24: III. Sehr rasch

There is a fantastic Anton Webern “Complete Works” CD-Box Set available, conducted by Pierre Boulez. It is available on Amazon.com. The product page is here. Excerpts are available for pre-listening.

Anton Webern, along with Alban Berg, was a very highly regarded student of Arnold Schönberg, and was without a doubt one of the greatest classical composers, who took the so-called Twelve-Tone Technique to another level.

© Patrice Schneider. No reproduction without prior written consent.

Technorati Tags: Anton Webern, Arnold Schönberg, Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg

Today, somebody started a rumour on the internet that Placebo possibly broke up, stating that at their Creamfields Lisbon Festival appearance, singer Brian Molko was jealous of bassist/guitarist Stefan Olsdal for getting more attention from the crowd, and that the former walked off five seconds into “Running Up That Hill”.

Let us put this into perspective.

Who is the source of this rumour? Anyone with any knowledge? The person who posted the rumour mentioned something about NME, but nothing can be found on their website.

Considering that there are contracts in place, and usually heavy fines to be paid for cancelling shows, I am sure Placebo will finish this tour. (Unless Brian’s health, which has over the past few months been up and down, knocks him off his feet and doctors order him to rest.) As Pink Floyd once sang: “The Show Must Go On”.

Placebo have pretty much been touring and doing promo non-stop since February 2006 (when they came to visit me in Bangkok). The same group of people together most of the time. Of course that takes its toll.

The boys are not only bandmates, but also close friends, so if there are any problems, they can definitely be worked out. My guess is that Brian might even be happy that every now and then the attention is not on him.

© Patrice Schneider. No reproduction without prior written consent.

Technorati Tags: Placebo, Placebo Break Up, Brian Molko, Stefan Olsdal, Steve Hewitt, Placebo Rumours

Today’s Top Tune, Round 002.

No, I am not running out of ideas at all – but once again, it is a track by John Vanderslice. (I am not a business partner of his or anything, he just managed to impress me over the past few days.)

I first heard “Exodus Damage” on Merlin Mann’s The Merlin Show.

The song has a great feel to it, the instrumentation sounds simple and is very effective. A very touching song.

“Exodus Damage” is available for free download on “John Vanderslice’s MP3 Download Page.”

© Patrice Schneider. No reproduction without prior written consent.

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I am a drummer, and Terry Bozzio (whom I had the great pleasure of studying with) is definitely one of my favourite drummers. He is in my Top 3, alongside Joey Baron and Tony Williams (RIP).

While checking some Bozzio-related stuff on the internet, I came across his Wikipedia page – and found out that he played on the latest album by KORN!?!? “What the “/”=/”/=”*ç/”%?”, I thought.

One of the tracks was available on Korn’s MySpace Page. I have to admit that I was very pleasantly surprised with the result.

Terry Bozzio’s very, very, very own and totally unique style had a huge impact on the track. Oftentimes I feel his playing is way too much right into-your-face, not leaving enough space for the other instruments. Not on the KORN track I heard, I must say.

Terry Bozzio was supposed to tour with the band, but has now decided against this plan. No-one will be able to reproduce what he played. Technically, Bozzio is in a league of his own.

© Patrice Schneider. No reproduction without prior written consent.

Technorati Tags: KORN, Terry Bozzio, Joey Baron, Tony Williams, Drums